Osmani - Rinkēvičs: Riga reaffirms support for EU integration, reforms a key element to success of accession negotiations
Skopje, 11 November 2022 (MIA) – Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani met with Latvian counterpart Edgars Rinkēvičs in Riga on Friday.
FM Osmani said the European idea in the Balkans will only be completed if the process gets real valorization through the integration of the Western Balkan countries in the European Union.
Osmani briefed Rinkēvičs on the activities related to the ongoing screening process, as a significant stage in the process of accession negotiations with the Union. In addition, Osmani welcomed Latvia’s continuous commitment as part of the "Group of friends of EU enlargement" to maintaining the dynamics in the EU enlargement process, extending gratitude for Riga’s principled support for the country’s European perspective, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.
Rinkēvičs, adds the press release, reaffirmed that Latvia remains a strong supporter of North Macedonia, encouraging the country to continue reforms and commitment to strengthening capacities as a key element to the success of accession negotiations. He stressed that Riga highly appreciates North Macedonia's alignment with the EU sanctions in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the expectation that support and cooperation will continue.
“The two ministers agreed that in conditions of disturbed European security and increasing risks in terms of stability and security, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine that has been going on for eight months, wise decisions, unity and solidarity among all stakeholders are necessary. They jointly concluded that alliance and unity in NATO are of primary importance,” the press release reads.
Participants in the meeting exchanged views on the possibilities for deepening economic relations between the two countries, as well as multilateral cooperation, particularly in light of North Macedonia’s 2023 OSCE chairpersonship.
In addition, Osmani and Rinkēvičs signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia and Latvia, enabling closer cooperation at expert level, reads the press release.
